The firm claims that both markets are now showing steep declines, with scanner sales down 20% and imagesetter sales down 30% last year.

This move is a timely response to the changing needs of these markets, said chief executive Bernhard Schreier. We will be focusing our pre-press business on workflow and CTP.

All scanner development and production will cease, including its high-end flatbed Nexscan and Primescan drum scanners, as well as its desktop Linoscan range (PrintWeek, 12 April). Two-page imagesetters and polyester platesetters the Duosetter, Quicksetter 460 and Quicksetter 46 will also be discontinued.The former Linotype factory in Kiel, where many of the pre-press products are made, is becoming more focused on the production of Heidelbergs NexPress.

Quitting some pre-press products will result in 13% of the 1,500 workforce being laid off, although a further 60 positions are being created to produce the NexPress.

Story by Barney Cox